Microgrid optimization, modelling and control

2014 Fall.To view the abstract, please see the full text of the document

Performance analysis of turbocharger effect on engine in local cars

The performance of a gasoline-fueled internal combustion engines can be increased with the use of a turbocharger. However, the amount of performance increment for a particular engine should be studied so that the advantages and drawbacks of turbocharging will be clarified. This study is mainly concerned on the suitable turbocharger unit selection, engine conversions required and guidelines for testing a Proton 4G92 SOHC 1.6-litre naturally aspirated gasoline engine. The engine is tested under its stock naturally aspirated condition and after been converted to turbocharged condition. The effect of inter cooled turbocharged condition is also been tested. Boost pressure is the main parameter in comparing the performance in different conditions as it influences the engine torque, power, efficiency and exhaust emissions. The use of a turbocharger on this test engine has clearly increased its performance compared to its stock naturally aspirated form. The incorporation of an intercooler to the turbocharger system increases the performance even further. With the worldwide effort towards environmental-friendly engines and fossil fuel shortage, the turbocharger can help to create engines with enhanced performance,minimum exhaust emissions and maximum fuel economy

Modelling and Control of Aircraft Gas Turbine Engines

In this thesis the main theme is to demonstrate the potential performance improvements of gas turbine engines that are brought about by using multivariable control systems. Particular emphasis is on designing such control systems using the well-established engine thermodynamic models since these models are considered as the true representations of engine thermodynamic process and enable engine variable geometry features to be easily incorporated and their effects studied

Thermal analysis and fuel economy benefits of cylinder deactivation on a 1.0l spark ignition engine

The deactivation of a cylinder on a 1.0litre three cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine has been investigated providing novel information on thermal and fuel consumption effects associated with the technology. This comes in light of providing solutions to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions resulting from internal combustion engines. The investigation has been carried out through the PROgram for Modelling of Engine Thermal Systems (PROMETS). A version of PROMETS was extensively developed to characterise a commercially produced TCE not fitted with cylinder deactivation technology. Developments include an improved gas-side heat transfer expression to account for increased heat transfer to coolant due to the addition of an integrated exhaust manifold; addition of an expression to represent natural convection to model heating of quiescent coolant in the block; and a method to estimate the boosted intake manifold pressure past the throttle due to turbocharging on a gasoline engine. The 0-D approach used in this thesis compared to higher resolution computational tools has allowed for thermal and performance predictions to be made within a couple of minutes compared to several hours or days. In effect, PROMETS has been a time and cost effective tool during the development stages of a prototype engine. The PROMETS model indicated that no adverse changes in engine thermal behaviour arose with cylinder deactivation. The largest temperature change of < 400 occurs in the exhaust valve lower stem for the deactivated cylinder. Temperature changes in other components throughout the engine are an order of magnitude smaller. Although the largest temperature differences between the deactivated and firing cylinders were found to be in the range of < 70 , these remain within normal engine operating temperatures of < 100 . Also, by on-setting deactivation past an oil temperature of 40 , warm-up times were marginally extended compared to operation on all cylinders from key-on. Experimental inputs representing changes in engine gross indicated thermal efficiency and the work loss associated with the motoring of a piston complemented modelling work in predicting fuel consumption changes due to deactivation. Reductions in pumping losses account for the majority of the fuel consumption benefit associated with deactivating a cylinder. The main limitation in the employment of cylinder deactivation stems from the deterioration in the gross indicated thermal efficiency. Modelled results show that fuel consumption improvements are highest on low and part load operation envelopes. As such over the NEDC and FTP-75 benefits are in the range of 3.5%. Applying the technology over dynamically loaded cycles such as the WLTC and ARTEMIS, results in benefits of less than 1.6%. Further to modelling work on cylinder deactivation, experimental work has been carried out with the aim of allowing any engine size to be tested to cover transient drive cycles for future research. Future research could be in the aim of investigating technologies to reduce CO2 and emissions resulting from ICEs. Results show that the control solution implemented has allowed eddy-current dynamometers normally used for constant speed and brake load conditions to operate cycles such as the WLTC or any transient brake torque and engine speed pattern. Benchmark fuel consumption values for two engines of differing swept volume are within a 4g error band equivalent to a 0.36% and 0.67% percentage error band demonstrating the excellence of the control system

Control of a hybrid electric vehicle with predictive journey estimation

Battery energy management plays a crucial role in fuel economy improvement of charge-sustaining parallel hybrid electric vehicles. Currently available control strategies consider battery state of charge (SOC) and driver’s request through the pedal input in decision-making. This method does not achieve an optimal performance for saving fuel or maintaining appropriate SOC level, especially during the operation in extreme driving conditions or hilly terrain. The objective of this thesis is to develop a control algorithm using forthcoming traffic condition and road elevation, which could be fed from navigation systems. This would enable the controller to predict potential of regenerative charging to capture cost-free energy and intentionally depleting battery energy to assist an engine at high power demand. The starting point for this research is the modelling of a small sport-utility vehicle by the analysis of the vehicles currently available in the market. The result of the analysis is used in order to establish a generic mild hybrid powertrain model, which is subsequently examined to compare the performance of controllers. A baseline is established with a conventional powertrain equipped with a spark ignition direct injection engine and a continuously variable transmission. Hybridisation of this vehicle with an integrated starter alternator and a traditional rule-based control strategy is presented. Parameter optimisation in four standard driving cycles is explained, followed by a detailed energy flow analysis. An additional potential improvement is presented by dynamic programming (DP), which shows a benefit of a predictive control. Based on these results, a predictive control algorithm using fuzzy logic is introduced. The main tools of the controller design are the DP, adaptive-network-based fuzzy inference system with subtractive clustering and design of experiment. Using a quasi-static backward simulation model, the performance of the controller is compared with the result from the instantaneous control and the DP. The focus is fuel saving and SOC control at the end of journeys, especially in aggressive driving conditions and a hilly road. The controller shows a good potential to improve fuel economy and tight SOC control in long journey and hilly terrain. Fuel economy improvement and SOC correction are close to the optimal solution by the DP, especially in long trips on steep road where there is a large gap between the baseline controller and the DP. However, there is little benefit in short trips and flat road. It is caused by the low improvement margin of the mild hybrid powertrain and the limited future journey information. To provide a further step to implementation, a software-in-the-loop simulation model is developed. A fully dynamic model of the powertrain and the control algorithm are implemented in AMESim-Simulink co-simulation environment. This shows small deterioration of the control performance by driver’s pedal action, powertrain dynamics and limited computational precision on the controller performance

Study of self excited induction generators with aluminium and copper rotors taking skin effect into account

This thesis covers the dynamic modeling and analysis of self-excited induction generators (SEIG) used in wind turbine applications. The process of self excitation or build-up of terminal voltage of an induction generator is explained as a physical process and also mathematically using higher order differential equations. A complete system model in d-q axis stationary reference frame has been formulated that consists of several non-linear differential equations. The non-linear variation of the magnetizing inductance with stator current of the induction machine has been taken into account in this model. Moreover this mathematical model takes skin effect into consideration. The rotor parameters determined from standard induction machine tests are modified by taking the rotor bar geometry, the material of the rotor bars and the frequency of the induced emf into account. The developed model has been used to analyze the performance of two industrial type 7.5 hp induction machines, one with an aluminium-rotor, the other with copper-rotor. A comparative performance analysis of these aluminum-rotor and copper-rotor SEIGs, considering saturation and skin effect has been carried out both theoretically and experimentally, and presented in the thesis

Traction axial flux motor-generator for hybrid electric bus application

Tato dizertační práce se zabývá návrhem původního motor-generátoru s axiálním tokem a buzením permanetními magnety, zkonstruovaným specificky pro hybridní elektrický autobus. Návrhové zadání pro tento stroj přineslo požadavky, které vedly k této unikátní topologii tak, aby byl dosažen výkon, účinnost a rozměry stroje. Tato partikulární topologie motor-generátoru s axiálním tokem je výsledkem literární rešerše, kterou následoval výběr koncepce stroje s představeným návrhem jako výsledkem těchto procesů. Přístup k návrhu stroje s axiálním tokem sledoval „multi-fyzikální“ koncepci, která pracuje s návrhem elektromagnetickým, tepelným, mechanickým, včetně návrhu řízení, v jedné iteraci. Tím je v konečném návrhu zajištěna rovnováha mezi těmito inženýrskými disciplínami. Pro samotný návrh stroje byla vyvinuta sada výpočtových a analytických nástrojů, které byly podloženy metodou konečných prvků tak, aby samotný návrh stroje byl přesnější a spolehlivější. Modelování somtného elektrického stroje a celého pohonu poskytlo představu o výkonnosti a účinnosti celého subsytému v rozmanitých operačních podmínkách. Rovněž poukázal na optimizační potenciál pro návrh řízení subsystému ve smyslu maximalizace účinnosti celého pohonu. Bylo postaveno několik prototypů tohoto stroje, které prošly intensivním testováním jak na úrovni sybsytému, tak systému. Samotné výsledky testů jsou diskutovány a porovnány s analytickými výpočty parametrů stroje. Poznatky získané z prvního prototypu stroje pak sloužily k představení možností, jak zjednodušit výrobu a montáž stroje v příští generaci. Tato práce zaznamenává jednotlivé kroky během všech fází vývoje elektrického stroje s axiálním tokem, počínaje výběrem konceptu stroje, konče sumarizací zkušeností získaných z první generace prototypu tohoto stroje.This thesis deals with a design of a novel Axial-Flux Permanent Magnet Motor-Generator for a hybrid electric bus application. Thus, the design specification represents a set of requirements, which leads toward a concept of a unique topology meeting performance, efficiency and dimensional targets. The particular topology of the Axial-Flux Permanent Magnet Motor-Generator discussed in this work is an outcome of deep literature survey, followed by the concept selection stage with the layout of the machine as an outcome of this processes. The design approach behind this so-called Spoke Axial-Flux Machine follows an idea of multiphysics iterations, including electromagnetic, thermal, mechanical and controls design. Such a process behind the eventually proposed design ensured a right balance in between all of these engineering disciplines. A set of bespoke design and analysis tools was developed for that reason, and was backed up by extensive use of Finite-Element Analysis and Computational Fluid Dynamics. Therefore, the actual machine design gained higher level of confidence and fidelity. Modelling of the machine and its drive provided understanding of performance and efficiency of the whole subsystem at various operational conditions. Moreover, it has illustrated an optimization potential for the controls design, so that efficiency of the machine and power electronics might be maximized. Several prototypes of this machine have been built and passed through extensive testing both on the subsystem and system level. Actual test results are discussed, and compared to analytical predictions in terms of the machine's parameters. As a lesson learned from the first prototype of this machine, a set of redesign proposals aiming for simplification of manufacturing and assembly processes, are introduced. This work records steps behind all phases of development of the Axial Flux Machine from a basic idea as an outcome of concept selection stage, up to testing and wrap-up of experience gained from the first generation of the machine.

Torque Accuracy Improvement Via Explicit Torque Feedback Control For Internal Combustion Spark Ignition Engines

At the present time, both control and estimation accuracies of engine torque are causes for under-achieving optimal drivability and performance in today’s production vehicles. The major focus in this area has been to enhance torque estimation and control accuracies using existing open-loop torque control and estimation structures. Such an approach does not guarantee optimum torque tracking accuracy and optimum estimation accuracy due to air flow and efficiencies estimations errors. Furthermore, current approach overlooks the fast torque path tracking which does not have any related feedback. Recently, explicit torque feedback control has been proposed in the literature using either estimated or measured torques as feedback to control the torque using the slow torque path only. I propose the usage of a surface acoustic wave torque sensor and in-cylinder pressure sensor to measure the engine brake and indicated torques respectively and feedback the signals to control the torques using both the fast and slow torque paths utilizing an inner-outer loop control structure. The fast torque path feedback is coordinated with the slow torque path by a novel method using the potential torque and is adapted to the sensors readings. The torque signals enable a fast and explicit torque feedback control that can correct torque estimation errors and improve drivability, emission control, and fuel economy. Control-oriented engine models for the 3.6L engine are developed. Computer simulations are performed to investigate the advantages and limitations of the proposed control strategy, versus the existing open loop control strategies. The findings include an improvement of 14% in gain margin and 60% in phase margin when the torque feedback is applied to the cruise control torque request at the simulated operating point. This study demonstrates that the direct torque feedback is a powerful technology with promising results for improved powertrain performance and fuel economy

Adaptive Model Predictive Control for Engine-Driven Ducted Fan Lift Systems using an Associated Linear Parameter Varying Model

Ducted fan lift systems (DFLSs) powered by two-stroke aviation piston engines present a challenging control problem due to their complex multivariable dynamics. Current controllers for these systems typically rely on proportional-integral algorithms combined with data tables, which rely on accurate models and are not adaptive to handle time-varying dynamics or system uncertainties. This paper proposes a novel adaptive model predictive control (AMPC) strategy with an associated linear parameter varying (LPV) model for controlling the engine-driven DFLS. This LPV model is derived from a global network model, which is trained off-line with data obtained from a general mean value engine model for two-stroke aviation engines. Different network models, including multi-layer perceptron, Elman, and radial basis function (RBF), are evaluated and compared in this study. The results demonstrate that the RBF model exhibits higher prediction accuracy and robustness in the DFLS application. Based on the trained RBF model, the proposed AMPC approach constructs an associated network that directly outputs the LPV model parameters as an adaptive, robust, and efficient prediction model. The efficiency of the proposed approach is demonstrated through numerical simulations of a vertical take-off thrust preparation process for the DFLS. The simulation results indicate that the proposed AMPC method can effectively control the DFLS thrust with a relative error below 3.5%

Thermal analysis and fuel economy benefits of cylinder deactivation on a 1.0l spark ignition engine

The deactivation of a cylinder on a 1.0litre three cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine has been investigated providing novel information on thermal and fuel consumption effects associated with the technology. This comes in light of providing solutions to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions resulting from internal combustion engines. The investigation has been carried out through the PROgram for Modelling of Engine Thermal Systems (PROMETS). A version of PROMETS was extensively developed to characterise a commercially produced TCE not fitted with cylinder deactivation technology. Developments include an improved gas-side heat transfer expression to account for increased heat transfer to coolant due to the addition of an integrated exhaust manifold; addition of an expression to represent natural convection to model heating of quiescent coolant in the block; and a method to estimate the boosted intake manifold pressure past the throttle due to turbocharging on a gasoline engine. The 0-D approach used in this thesis compared to higher resolution computational tools has allowed for thermal and performance predictions to be made within a couple of minutes compared to several hours or days. In effect, PROMETS has been a time and cost effective tool during the development stages of a prototype engine. The PROMETS model indicated that no adverse changes in engine thermal behaviour arose with cylinder deactivation. The largest temperature change of < 400 occurs in the exhaust valve lower stem for the deactivated cylinder. Temperature changes in other components throughout the engine are an order of magnitude smaller. Although the largest temperature differences between the deactivated and firing cylinders were found to be in the range of < 70 , these remain within normal engine operating temperatures of < 100 . Also, by on-setting deactivation past an oil temperature of 40 , warm-up times were marginally extended compared to operation on all cylinders from key-on. Experimental inputs representing changes in engine gross indicated thermal efficiency and the work loss associated with the motoring of a piston complemented modelling work in predicting fuel consumption changes due to deactivation. Reductions in pumping losses account for the majority of the fuel consumption benefit associated with deactivating a cylinder. The main limitation in the employment of cylinder deactivation stems from the deterioration in the gross indicated thermal efficiency. Modelled results show that fuel consumption improvements are highest on low and part load operation envelopes. As such over the NEDC and FTP-75 benefits are in the range of 3.5%. Applying the technology over dynamically loaded cycles such as the WLTC and ARTEMIS, results in benefits of less than 1.6%. Further to modelling work on cylinder deactivation, experimental work has been carried out with the aim of allowing any engine size to be tested to cover transient drive cycles for future research. Future research could be in the aim of investigating technologies to reduce CO2 and emissions resulting from ICEs. Results show that the control solution implemented has allowed eddy-current dynamometers normally used for constant speed and brake load conditions to operate cycles such as the WLTC or any transient brake torque and engine speed pattern. Benchmark fuel consumption values for two engines of differing swept volume are within a 4g error band equivalent to a 0.36% and 0.67% percentage error band demonstrating the excellence of the control system